King’s Park (Bournemouth), Queen’s Park (Chesterfield)

The Edwardian pavilion in King’s Park, Bournemouth earlier this summer, at times understandably confused with  Dean Park (above) in a town blessed with fine pavilions, those at  Meyrick Park and Winton rec making four within a couple of miles of each other. While no gainsaying the decline in the sport, other recreational sport, cheerfully two are still in use for cricket.

A  six hit off to the left Dean Court, football  dominant  even in the summer months, county cricket in pleasant setting vibes harder to find. When things were very different a coach  from Dean Park to Darley Dale was organised in not much more than 30 minutes one Sunday evening, and later cricket trips to Derbyshire were  Derby and Heanor.

Finally, in 2024, Chesterfield, Queen’s Park for a Rachel Heyhoe Flint trophy game, The Blaze v The Sparks. High kudos to the ground staff who maintain the outfield to such a high standard in what is an open public park. The pavilion was hidden rather behind the sightscreen but as backdrops go a summerhouse type building adjacent that would not be out of place at Kew Gardens.

By comparison with an RHF fixture at Arundel 12 months ago,  Queen’s Park was every bit as charming, free to watch, cricket obviously a prominent part of the park’s life. Leaving a cloudy St Pancras on a day return to the 20th century  it exceeded expectations, and David Griffin’s book title ‘The Jewel in Derbyshire’s Crown’ certainly seems very apt.